At a Glance
- President Trump says he is ending all contact with Iranian officials while protests rage
- Human-rights monitors report 2,000+ dead and 16,700 detained nationwide
- New 25% tariffs on countries trading with Tehran take effect immediately
- Why it matters: The move closes the only public diplomatic channel as Iran warns U.S. forces could become “legitimate targets”
President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that he is cutting off all talks with Iranian officials, telling protesters across the Islamic Republic that “help is on its way” after human-rights groups put the death toll from the latest crackdown at more than 2,000.
The announcement, posted on Truth Social, marks a rapid reversal from comments only days earlier that Tehran had sought negotiations after Trump threatened military strikes.
Trump ends dialogue
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” the president wrote. “Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
Trump gave no details about what form U.S. assistance might take.
The post appeared hours after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the administration was still exploring diplomacy. “What you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately,” she said Monday, adding that Trump “has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary.”
Escalating crackdown
The Human Rights Activists News Agency said Tuesday that 1,850 protesters and 135 security personnel have died since demonstrations spread to all 31 provinces. More than 600 protests have been recorded and more than 16,700 people detained, the group reported.
Iranian state media have offered sparse coverage, and intermittent internet blackouts make independent verification difficult. Brief online clips show crowds chanting and the sound of gunfire.
Tehran’s parliamentary speaker has warned that both U.S. military assets and Israel would be considered “legitimate targets” if Washington acts against the government.
Economic pressure added
Trump said Monday he will impose 25% tariffs on countries that continue doing business with Iran, effective immediately. The White House has yet to spell out how the measure will be enforced. Major economies that maintain trade links with Tehran include:
- China
- United Arab Emirates
- Turkey
- Brazil
- Russia
The president has repeatedly threatened military action if Iran’s security forces escalate violence against demonstrators. On Sunday he told reporters Iran is “starting to cross” that threshold.
Policy team meets
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior National Security Council staff began meeting Friday to craft options ranging from diplomacy to targeted strikes, according to officials familiar with the discussions.
The president’s latest statement appears to rule out talks for now, even as his aides said private Iranian messages had raised the possibility of negotiations.
Broader foreign agenda
The Iran crisis unfolds as the administration juggles multiple flash points. U.S. forces last week arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a Caribbean raid, and an unusually large naval presence remains in the region.
Trump is also pressing Israel and Hamas to move into the second phase of a Gaza cease-fire plan and seeking a deal to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine.
Advocates for stronger action argue the protests – sparked by the collapse of Iran’s currency – present a chance to weaken the theocratic government in place since the 1979 revolution. Demonstrations are the largest in years and have evolved into open challenges to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Key takeaways
- Trump closes diplomatic channel, vowing unspecified support for Iranian protesters
- Rights monitors say 2,000+ have been killed and 16,700 detained
- Immediate 25% tariffs on Tehran’s trading partners add economic pressure
- Iran threatens to treat U.S. and Israeli assets as targets if Washington intervenes
